The distance folks have spoken.
The distance medley relay, 4x800 meter relay and the 5,000 meter run were the top vote-getters among MileSplitCA readers responding to this week's poll question asking which events they'd like added to the CIF championship event schedule.
Nearly 25 percent of more than 1,200 respondents said they would like to see the DMR, a 1200-400-800-1600 relay of distance depth and versatility, added to the CIF Track and Field Championships lineup.
More than 20 percent selected the 4x800 relay.
Readers were provided with nine options and allowed to select up to two.
We thank everyone for participating in this week's poll.
Here's how the voting broke down:
We also had plenty of respondents on both Twitter and Instagram.
On the MileSplitCA Twitter account, the preferred write-in choice was the steeplechase with multiple mentions of both the DMR and 4x800.
Other write-ins of note: Mixed relay, 150 meter dash, 4x3200 relay, replacing the 300mH with the 400mH, and a couple of folks noted that they liked the current 16-event schedule as is.
Here are a few of our favorites from the MileSplitCA Instagram account:
Definitely needs a DMR and 4x8 or at least one of the two. Distance runners have almost zero impact on team scoring because they only have the 1600/3200 to contribute points. Team championships are decided nearly entirely by sprinters and jumpers. Almost every other state has some sort of distance relay at their state meet.
DMR, 5000m, 4x800
- @elliotdz5000 if there was a 5k lots of people would have to pick between that and the 3200. Don't think it's ideal
- @alejandrotorres007 maybe put them on different days? Like 5k on day of prelims and 3200 on day of finals
A 2020 track season
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MileSplitCA Northern California editor Albert Caruana contributed to this report.